Admissions Policies

Admissions Policies

Alverno College accepts women who have recently completed their high school education
as well as women who have been out of school for some time in the weekday undergraduate
program. We seek women who have the ability and desire to succeed in college. Alverno
also extends its mission to women and men in the degree completion programs for nursing
and business, and our graduate programs in each of the four schools.

The college admits students of any color, race, religion, age, and national or ethnic
origin. Alverno is authorized under federal law to enroll nonimmigrant alien students.

Undergraduate policies for the Alverno College Weekday college program

The undergraduate application process

All applicants for a bachelor’s or associate’s degree must submit the following:

An application for admission (Applications are available from the Alverno Admissions
Office or at alverno.edu.)

An official transcript of high school coursework (delivered in a sealed envelope or electronic PDF from the school) or an official report of test results for the General Educational Development (GED)
indicating a passing score

Official transcripts from each college or university attended (delivered in a sealed envelope or electronic PDF from the school), if any

Official American College Test (ACT) or Scholastic Aptitude Test (SAT) score report
for student applying directly from high school. (This item is not needed for international
students; see below.)

Home-schooled applicants

Alverno welcomes applications from home-schooled students who demonstrate promise
of success in college. We recognize the contributions that home-schooled students
bring to college life both in the classroom and as part of student life. We encourage
home-schooled applicants to help us get an adequate picture of their college preparation
by providing us with the following documents:

Transcripts: A GED or transcript from a reputable home-school correspondence/umbrella program
is acceptable. A home-prepared transcript is acceptable with a detailed roster of
at least 17 academic units of high school coursework, including English, history,
social sciences, mathematics, and natural science.

Portfolio: To help us evaluate your readiness for college-level work, submit at least two substantive
samples of work in each of the following areas: English, history, social sciences,
mathematics, and natural science.

ACT/SAT

Letters of recommendation: Submit two letters of recommendation from individuals who are able to evaluate you
not only as a student but also as a member of the community. These individuals might
include employers, teachers, coaches, pastors, and so on.

International applicants

To ensure that Alverno College has all the information and documents necessary to
make a decision on your application for admission, please make sure that you submit
all of the materials listed above and please note the additional steps you must take
as follows:

A minimum TOEFL score of 520 (written) or 190 (computer) or 68 (Internet) is required.
The Alverno school code is 1012. Alverno requires receipt of an official copy of
the test results directly from the testing service.

A minimum STEP grade of Pre-1 is required. Alverno requires receipt of an official
copy of the test results directly from the testing service.

Evaluation of foreign credentials

Your non-U.S. transcripts must be evaluated by a foreign credential evaluator such
as Educational Credential Evaluators, Inc. (ECE) (http://www.ece.org) or Education Evaluators International, Inc. (http://www.educei.com). Choose a “general” evaluation of your secondary school records and a “course by
course” evaluation of your university/college transcripts.

Statement of evidence of financial support

Provide Alverno with official (i.e., certified) evidence of your financial ability
to live and study in the United States for the first academic year. Follow the instructions
on the college’s Statement of Evidence of Financial Support form.

Certification of Intent to Transfer from transferring F-1 students

If you are an F-1 student wishing to transfer from another U.S. college or university,
you must submit the Alverno form International Student Notice of Intent to Transfer
In. This form can be obtained from the Alverno International & Intercultural Center.

Questions concerning this information should be directed to the Alverno College International
& Intercultural Center at admissions@alverno.edu or at 414-382-6008.

All applicants are invited to submit any additional documents that they feel may assist
the Admissions Committee in evaluating the application.

Application Form

High School Transcript

College Transcript

Test Scores

New Student

•

•

•(1,2)

Transfer Student

•

•

•

International Student

•

•

•

•(3)

Postgraduate Student

•

•

Youth Options Student(still enrolled in high school)

•

•(5)

The Admissions Office may request additional credentials in some cases.

For information on the ACT, visit act.org or see your high school guidance counselor.

For information on the SAT, visit collegeboard.com or see your high school guidance counselor.

Proof of English language proficiency is required.

Based on previous academic history, some applicants may be asked to complete the Communication
Placement Assessment (see p. 12) as part of the application process.

Alverno College welcomes high school juniors and seniors to experience college academics
while still enrolled in high school through the State of Wisconsin Department of Public
Instruction’s Youth Options Program. This program, open to women and men, gives students
the chance to earn college credits at a reduced tuition rate while still in high school.
A range of possible courses and timeframes is available from the Admissions Office.
Students interested in this program should call the Alverno Admissions Office at 414-382-6100
for more information.

Students enrolling in the Youth Options Program must submit a Youth Options application,
an official high school transcript indicating a minimum 3.0 GPA, and a letter or recommendation
from a principal, counselor, or teacher. Students must meet with an Alverno College
admissions counselor and submit all appropriate forms by August 1 for the fall semester
or December 1 for the spring semester.

Criteria for admission

Generally, eligibility for admission is based on a combination of the following factors:

Graduation from an accredited high school with a minimum GPA of 2.3. A Student whose
GPA falls between 2.0 and 2.3 may need to petition the Admissions Committee, depending
on her other credentials.

Completion of 17 academic units of study in high school.

Rank in the upper half of the high school graduating class.

A minimum composite score of 17 on the American College Test (ACT). A student whose
composite score is between 17 and 21 may need to petition the Admissions Committee,
depending on her other credentials. Alverno also accepts SAT scores.

Evaluation of high school and/or college transcripts (coursework and GPA).

Candidates for admission to Alverno should have received credit for seventeen academic
courses in high school. These should include four units in English, three units in
history or the social sciences, three in mathematics, and three in the natural sciences.
Two units in a foreign language are recommended.

Transfer credits and articulation agreements

A Student with previous college experience who enrolls at Alverno College receives
a transfer credit evaluation. This evaluation is based on official transcripts that
she has submitted to the college. Courses taken at an institution accredited by a
regional or national accrediting organization recognized by the Council for Higher
Education Accreditation and that show an earned grade of C or better are reviewed.
At the time or registration, she receives notification of transferable coursework.
These credits are listed on an official Transfer Evaluation form.

Once a transfer student has submitted a transcript for review, her admissions counselor
offers an unofficial transfer credit evaluation. When a student confirms her enrollment
with a confirmation deposit, her file is evaluated by staff in the Registrar’s office
who ensures that transfer credit is maximized for the student in keeping with the
transfer course approved by Alverno faculty. Additionally, Academic Advisors will
review the transfer credits garnered and ensure placement in appropriate coursework
during the student’s first semester at the college.

Alverno College holds articulation agreements with all 16 campuses of the Wisconsin
Technical College System (WTCS), listed below. A number of agreements, specifically
nursing and business, are between Alverno College and WTCS and apply to each of the
campuses, while other agreements are specific to WTCS campuses in southeastern WI.

Blackhawk

Chippewa Valley

Fox Valley

Gateway

Lakeshore

Madison Area

Mid-State

Milwaukee Area

Moraine Park

Nicolet Area

North Central

Northeast WI

Southwest WI

Waukesha Co

Western

WI Indianhead

Additionally, Alverno recognizes coursework completed at both private and public accredited
two and four year institutions in Wisconsin and nationally.

If a prospective student has any questions about transfer credits prior to registration,
she should contact an admissions counselor at 414-382-6100 or at 1-800-933-3401, or
visit the Alverno website at Alverno.edu.

Notification and confirmation

Once an applicant has submitted the required credentials, the admissions staff reviews
her application and notifies her of a decision within four weeks.

Accepted students confirm their acceptance by depositing $100 within one month of
acceptance. The fee is refundable until May 1 for the fall term and until October
15 for the spring term.

Credit for Prior Learning

Through Credit for Prior Learning assessment (CPL) processes, Alverno works with students
to recognize the learning that they have already accomplished through a variety of
life, work, and educational experiences. Students may earn college credits toward
their degree by demonstrating how their learning experiences meet the requirements
of a major or support area.

If a student decides to pursue CPL the student and a faculty member work within the
guidelines and policies developed by each discipline as they collaborate to determine
the number of credits and assessment process that reflect the student’s experience
and the expected learning outcomes. Policies set by the academic departments are
designed to ensure that the student develops the depth and breadth of the arts and
humanities along with the depth and breadth of the major and support areas that are
expected of a quality baccalaureate program. If a student would like her work to
be considered for CPL, she should contact an admissions counselor at 414-382-6100
or at 1-800-933-2401 and ask about the opportunity to work with the college’s Assessment
Center. An administrative fee is charged for CPL.

If a student has taken college-level coursework in other accredited institutions,
Alverno also offers a preliminary transfer evaluation, free of charge. The college
encourages prospective students to submit accredited college transcripts for a preliminary
transfer evaluation. Courses that transfer do not need to be assessed for credit
for prior learning.

To determine if you may be eligible for college credit in Alverno’s Credit for Prior
Learning program, ask yourself if you have:

Participated in paid or volunteer experiences related to an academic discipline;

Created or developed a product, publication, artistic work, innovation, or program.

Accessibility

Alverno College makes every effort to provide accessible facilities and program for
individuals with disabilities. If you have a diagnosed disability and would like
to request accommodations for any part of the admissions process, please contact the
coordinator for student accessibility at 414-382-6026.

Registration

The Alverno academic year consists of two semesters, approximately sixteen weeks each,
and a summer session. Accepted students may begin in the fall or spring semester,
and may submit registration materials once invited to do so. Continuing students
register online each semester during the two-week period specified on the academic
calendar.

Interactive Online (IOL)

Interactive Online (IOL) is a web interface with the College’s administrative database
that provides students with direct and easy access to any array of academic information.
The password-protected system allows students to access their personal academic records
– such as academic evaluations, course history, progress reports, and validation reports
– while maintaining strict confidentiality of those records. Information that is
newly entered or updated is immediately available to students online. IOL makes it
easier to manage student contact information and follow-ups, bolstering the College’s
high-touch communications approach.

With IOL, in addition to being able to register online, students can access general
academic information such as class schedules, faculty information, and financial information.

Course schedules

Every semester Course Offerings are available online approximately two weeks before
the registration period. Ordinarily a course is offered if it meets enrollment expectations.
Changes in course schedules are posted online.

Graduate policies for the Alverno College graduate programs

The graduate application process

See specific programs for additional requirements. All applicants for an advanced
degree must submit the following:

An application for admission (Applications are available from the Alverno Admissions
Office or atwww.alverno.edu/apply.)

Official transcript from college or university attended (delivered in a sealed envelope
or electronic PDF from the school) indicating bachelor degree conferred.

Transfer credit policy

Previous graduate courses with a minimum grade of a "B" may be considered for transfer.

Syllabus and course descriptions may be required for review.

Individual graduate programs determine total number of transfer credits/if any.

Criteria for admissions

See individual programs for eligibility and application requirements. All applicants
seeking a graduate degree must have completed a bachelor degree program from an accredited
institution. The GRE is not required to enter a graduate program.

Graduate International Applicants

F-1 Graduate International applicants follow the graduate application process and
criteria in addition to submitting the required international documentation outlined
above in the undergraduate policies section.

Admissions policies for Online Business and Degree Completion programs will be published
soon.